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I'm not running 300 hp, but I promised the board 6 months ago that I would post after I upgraded my stock 97 CS suspension with the factory Sport Suspension from Taliaferro. I never got around to keeping that promise so I'm going to jump in here while inspired by your posts and my morning coffee.
My rear shocks were shot at 100k miles and I took the opportunity to upgrade the shocks and springs. This car already has a set of 16 inch Aero wheels (a big improvement by itself over stock 15 inchers)and the sport suspension upgrade made the car handle much better without any great deterioration in ride quality. I also have a 99 Viggen and love it except for its harsh ride in normal traffic or long trips. I didn't want a harsh ride in the 9000 as it is my daily driver. The factory upgrade is I believe the stock Aero suspension with stiffer and shorter springs and firmer shock valving. The change permits me to drive the car harder and stay on the gas through turns, a plus as the motor is stock (anyone have a 97 Aero/CSE ECU for me?). Its ride quality is firmer than stock but not harsh, equivalent to my girlfriend's 04 Audi A4 quattro. I also did tie rods and ball joints and some bushings at the same time, and now the car has a sharper turn in and stays flatter in the turns, and this is before swapping to more aggressive sway bars, which I plan to do...sometime.
If you need the Bilstien/Konis, then this may not be of value to you, but to anyone considering a cost effective upgrade/replacement to cure worn shocks, the factory Sport Suspension upgrade makes sense if you plan to keep your car. The struts come assembled with new strut bearings (those are $90 each alone I think) which saves time and spring compressor rental costs. The kit also comes with all new hardware (you may need to cut out the rusted rear shock bolts)for about $650 delivered, IIRC. Rear springs are not that hard to change and the preassembled struts are a snap to install. Plus the components are factory matched. So not the highest end solution, but definitely an improvement on a stock CS or repairing a worn CSE/Aero suspension.
Now, any advice on swaybar upgrades? Plus I note that those rear sway bar mounts look a little wimpy, anyone make a stronger setup and or poly bushings? Thanks.
posted by 69.124.12...
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